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Congratulations 2019-20 Collegiate Leadership Council!

Each year, we select a group of exceptional collegiate donors from across the country to represent their chapters on the Phi Mu Foundation Collegiate Leadership Council. Together, the members of this council share their passion for philanthropy and the Foundation’s mission by educating, motivating and inspiring others to give back to Phi Mu Foundation throughout the academic year.

Congratulations to the members serving on this year’s council!

ALPHA

Regan Brooks, University of Colorado-Boulder

Faith Atkins, University of Colorado-Boulder

Linzhi Douglass, Colorado State University

Sara Pelayo, California State University-Northridge

Jillian Benoit, Oklahoma State University

Andrea Gonzalez-Gamba, University of Houston

Brooklynn Oney, LSU Shreveport

Alyssa Pardee, Southeastern Louisiana University

Avery Bracken, Louisiana State University

BETA

Madalynn Ebert, University of Minnesota

Allison Younger, Cleveland State University

Yiannoula Katsadas, Westminster College

GAMMA

Emma Sisk, James Madison University

Savannah Lambert, Transylvania University

Lilly Caudill, Bellarmine University

Grace Hawley, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

DELTA

Bailey Bishop, Mississippi State University

Cacky Davis, University of Georgia

Rebekah Magnusson, Auburn University

Samantha Jacobsen, Florida State University

Allie Shepler, Millsaps

Cailey Ness, Millsaps

Join the Foundation Team!

The search is underway for Phi Mu Foundation’s next Executive Director.

Qualified candidates for the position of Executive Director will be visionary leaders and inspirational spokespeople with a successful record of accomplishment, with the ability to understand, embrace, demonstrate passion about and advance Phi Mu Foundation’s mission and to appreciate and support the role that Phi Mu plays in the lives of women.

If you have at least 5 years’ experience of successful fundraising and significant experience in nonprofit administration and demonstrated track record of success in fundraising and extensive knowledge of fundraising strategy; including major gift solicitation (>$25,000), campaign experience, annual fund, and planned/deferred giving … this could be the right opportunity for you.

The Executive Director is a full-time, on-site position located at Phi Mu National Headquarters just south of Atlanta in Peachtree City, GA.

Click here for the entire position description, including information on how to apply!

Meet Paula Buchanan, Delta

When Paula Buchanan left home to head to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, she didn’t have her sights set on pledging a sorority. A budding biology and history major, Paula was excited to begin her studies at Tulane after being recruited by colleges and universities from across the country based on her rigorous academic record in high school. But after just a year at Tulane, Paula met a few women through mutual friends that piqued her interest in sorority life. They were members of Phi Mu, and they invited her to join them back at the Delta Chapter house to learn more about their sisterhood. After that initial visit, it didn’t take long for Paula to realize what she had been missing. The women in Phi Mu provided her with a group of sisters who became part of her support system in New Orleans. Those early friendships she had made with Phi Mu friends ended up changing Paula’s trajectory at Tulane, and she became a Phi Mu member later that semester.

To honor her Phi Mu experience and the lasting friendships she made while at Tulane, Paula made a planned gift to the Foundation that she hopes will lift up another woman along her Phi Mu journey.

“In my family, we were raised to always give back to the communities where we lived, worked and went to school. I was lucky enough to have supportive parents who helped provide me with a pathway toward success, but I recognize not everyone is that fortunate. If I can help just one woman be successful while pursuing their education with my planned gift, then I will feel as though my Phi Mu experience has come full circle.”

If you would like to join women just like Paula and learn more about leaving a planned gift to Phi Mu Foundation, please contact Director of Major Gifts Mandi Young at myoung@phimu.org.

Trustee Tuesday: Meet Delicia Bryant Arnold, Kappa Omega

Next in the Trustee Tuesday series we’re introducing Trustee Delicia Bryant Arnold, Kappa Omega. Delicia was elected to the Board of Trustees during the 2016 National Convention and is currently serving a four-year term through 2020. After spending several years as a collegiate department volunteer and contributing to the Foundation as a member of the 1852 Society, Delicia felt compelled to get more involved in fundraising on behalf of the many women growing and developing through the programs offered by the Fraternity.

“Knowing that Foundation donors help fund many of our signature leadership and educational programs, I wanted to serve on the Board of Trustees to ensure that generations to come would have access to scholarships, emergency aid, and leadership programming. I also wanted to help share the message that giving back is part of who we are as Phi Mu members and continuing that commitment beyond their college years is important.”

As a former Area Membership Director for the Delta area and current Advisory Council member at the Kappa Chapter, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Delicia enjoys staying connected to the Phi Mu collegiate experience and keeping her finger on the pulse of the issues facing sorority women on campuses today. Over the years, she’s seen first-hand the benefits that women gain from their Phi Mu membership – everything from academic scholarships to help them further their studies to pivotal leadership experiences that accelerate their path to successful careers. Watching Phi Mu women rise above challenges because of the opportunities Phi Mu has offered them inspires Delicia to stay laser-focused on the type of support she would like to see the Foundation provide to encourage future growth.

“My vision is for every chapter to have a scholarship and leadership endowment through the Foundation that can be used for members to attend Phi Mu leadership programs or any leadership development programming offered in their community. In harmony with that, I would also like to see an alumnae endowment for our alumnae members to take advantage of local leadership programming. Helping to secure funding for lifetime leadership opportunities that will help our women meet their full potential is something that motivates me every single day!”

After graduating from the University of South Alabama, Delicia headed to law school at the Mississippi College School of Law and spent nearly 20 years as a practicing attorney in Knoxville, where she lives with her husband John and daughter Abbey Clare. In her role as a member of the Development and Finance/Investment committees of the Board of Trustees, Delicia is able to leverage her legal experience to elevate the Foundation’s efforts to support our sisterhood.

“As an attorney, my background helps me provide a better understanding of non-profit status and the ability to explain to others many financial and legal situations that can protect the Foundation and its investments. Combined with the lessons I’ve learned in Phi Mu on how to communicate and get along with people of all backgrounds and beliefs, my career has taught me how to be a passionate advocate for what I believe in, while also being an active listener and compromising with others for the good of the organization.”

With all of that passion and fervor, it’s no surprise that when it comes to picking just one Foundation campaign that ranks as number one in her books, Delicia chose 18 Hours & 52 Minutes of Giving. She says she loves the excitement and energy on the day of giving and that being able to see the immediate results from the generosity of our donors is her favorite kind of adrenaline rush!

 

 “Creating a culture of philanthropy through annual events like the day of giving and our grant programs is critical to the Foundation’s success. Giving back to Phi Mu should feel like returning a favor that was done for all of us. If the Foundation could grow its endowments and increase the number of grants it makes each year to invest in more Phi Mu women, chances are those women would pay it forward by giving back … and that could be game-changing for the future of Phi Mu.”